Nozzle evacuator for gas pressure containers



Sept. 1968 F. s. VANDERVEER 3,401,884

NOZZLE EVACUATOR FOR GAS PRESSURE CONTAINERS Filed 001;. 24, 1965 VIIIIII IEO'II I I INVENTOR IO FREDERICK B. VANDERVEER ANDRUS 8| STARKE Attorneys United States Patent 3,401,884 NOZZLE EVACUATOR FOR GAS PRESSURE CONTAINERS Frederick B. Vanderveer, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Bissell Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,877 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-106) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pressure container nozzle evacuating and declogging device, with a wire-like member placed in the nozzle. The member extends outwardly beyond the nozzle to form a loop. Droplets of material in the nozzle will run down the legs of the member and onto the loop.

This invention relates to a nozzle tube evacuator for gas pressure containers.

Such containers are commonly called aerosol containers and are nowadays used for storing and dispensing a large variety of substances, such as: shaving cream, detergents, certain foods, etc. These containers are also used for dispensing materials of relatively high viscosity, such as wax and the like.

Many such containers include ,a dispensing nozzle of relatively small cross-section. When dispensing of high viscosity material is completed, some of this material often tends to remain in the nozzle. During storage of the device for anything longer than a few minutes, this residue material remains in the nozzle and dries out. The nozzle thus becomes clogged and interferes with the next dispensing operation.

The present invention solves the aforementioned problem and is directed to means to permit substantially complete evacuation of the nozzle so that little or no material remains therein.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a gas pressure dispensing container, with parts broken away and sectioned, and showing the evacuator of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the evacuator member; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing operation of the nozzle evacuator.

As shown in the drawing, the invention is adapted for use in connection with .a gas pressure aerosol container, such as a can 1, having wax or other relatively high viscosity material stored therein under pressure. Can 1 includes at one end a dispensing apparatus, including a valve 2 which is connected between the cans contents and a tube-like discharge nozzle 3 having an open end. The valve construction may be of any suitable type, such as that disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,101,875, granted to D. D. Michel.

Material stored in can 1 may be discharged through hollow nozzle 3 by tilting the nozzle to an angular position with respect to the can, which serves to open valve 2.

Normally,

on line 2-2 of high viscosity material tends to remain in nozzle 3 after dispensing. Solvents or other ingredients in this material may evaporate, thus creating a hardened mass in the nozzle, which clogs the valve and/ or prevents passage of material through the nozzle when dispensing is again attempted.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided "ice to permit draining of nozzle 3 of substantially all of the material at the end of a discharge or spraying operation, and alternately to relieve any clogging which might have occurred. As shown in the accompanying drawing, this means comprises a wire-like evacuator member 4 formed of metal, plastic or other suitable substance. Member 4 comprises a pair of opposed generally parallel legs 5 which each merge at a slight bend 6 into a generally areuate fold or loop 7 which joins the two legs.

In its free condition, legs 5 of member 4 diverge outwardly toward their ends. The member, however, is flex ible and spring-like, and when it is inserted into the hollow portion of nozzle 3, legs 5 assume the parallel position shown in FIGURE 1 and are biased by spring tension against the inner walls of nozzle 3. Bends 6 provide a stop for limiting insertion of the member into the nozzle since they engage the outer nozzle end.

As shown, the outer ends of legs 5 are provided with slightly outwardly flanged projections 8. These projections prevent or stop accidental release of member 4 from nozzle 3 by engaging a corresponding shoulder 9 on the interior of the nozzle.

In operation of the aerosol device, it is usually tipped upside down and nozzle 3 is tilted to discharge pressurized wax or the like from can 1. Member 4 will not interfere with normal discharge of material from the can, since its gauge is substantially less than the gauge of the nozzle opening. When nozzle 3 is permitted to return to its normal position, there will be some material which remains in the nozzle. By keeping the container in a nozzle-down position for at least a short time, this remaining material will collect onto legs 5 and run down them to form a droplet 10 at the bottom of loop 7 which extends outwardly from the nozzle end. Except for a possible slight amount of film coating the inner nozzle wall which will not be sufficient to clog the device, the nozzle will be completely drained.

Member 4, in effect, forms a plurality of longitudinal ribs disposed contiguously along the inner nozzle wall, said ribs extending outwardly of the nozzle end for evacuation purposes.

In some instances, as when can 1 is positioned upright without draining of material from nozzle 3, the material will tend to harden and clog the nozzle. In such a situation, member 4 may be twisted within the nozzle to loosen and break up the hardened mass. This is possible because member 4 is mounted for relatively free rotation about the nozzle axis. Return of can 1 to upside down dispensing position will permit the loosened material to drop out of the nozzle end. If some pieces of hardened material still remain, they will be evacuated with pressurized material upon dispensing in the usual manner.

Other shapes of evacuation members may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention, which provides a novel means for preventing and relieving clogging of pressure container nozzles, even by minute quantities of unpressurized material disposed therein.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In a pressure container:

(a) a hollow nozzle,

(b) a valve disposed to discharge pressurized material through said nozzle,

(c) and evacuation means connected to said nozzle for causing drainage from the latter of unpressurized material tending to remain therein, said evacuation means comprising:

(l) rib means extending along the interior nozzle wall for collecting minute amounts of said unpressurized material,

(2) said rib means extending outwardly beyond the nozzle end for accumulation of said material when the container is in a nozzle-down position.

2. The pressure container of claim 1 in which said evacuation means comprises:

(a) a wire-like member having a pair of generally parallel legs joined at one end by a connecting portion,

(b) said legs being disposed within said nozzle and extending along the interior wall thereof for collection of unpressurized material,

() and said connecting portion being disposed outwardly of the nozzle end for accumulation of said material when the container is in a nozzle-down position.

3. The pressure container of claim 2 in which said wire-like member is mounted for relatively free rotation .about the nozzle axis so that twisting of the member loosens any material which has clogged the nozzle.

4. The pressure container of claim 2 in which said wire-like member includes stop means for limiting the amount of insertion of the member into the nozzle openmg.

5. The pressure container of claim 4 in which said stop means comprises a bend joining at least one of said legs and said connecting portion and adapted to engage the nozzle end.

6. The pressure container of claim 4 in which said member and said nozzle include cooperative stop means to prevent accidental release of the member from the nozzle.

7. The pressure container of claim 2 in which the legs of said member are spring-like and are tensioned against the inner wall of said nozzle.

8. For use in removing unpressurized residual material from the hollow nozzle of a pressure container, evacuators means for insertion into the open end of said nozzle, said means comprising:

(a) a wire like member having a pair of normally diverging legs joined at one end by a connecting portion,

(b) the legs of said member being spring-like and movable into generally parallel position for tensioning against the inner wall of the nozzle.

9. For use in removing unpressurized residual material from the hollow nozzle of a pressure container, evacuator means for insertion into the open end of said nozzle, said means comprising:

(a) a wire like member having a pair of legs,

(b) each of said legs merging through a bend into a loop-like connecting portion,

(c) said legs diverging toward their outer ends.

(d) and projecting flanges on the said other ends,

(e) the legs of said member being spring-like and movable into generally parallel position for tensioning in an outward direction against the inner nozzle wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,195 7/1917 Creech 132--50 1,711,908 5/1929 Smith 13250 3,249,261 5/1966 Benediktson 239577 X 3,250,474 5/1966 McKernan 239--123 X 3,130,519 4/1964 Mauget 239-579 X 3,107,035 10/1963 Cholet 222-422 X M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

H. NATTER, Assistant Examiner. 

